Lehigh County residents in 2016 will see a $14 to $15 reduction in their taxes.

The county board of commissioners passed the 2016 budget totaling $380 million 2016 budget by a vote of 8-1 Oct. 28.

Voting against the budget was Commissioner Geoff Brace.

Roughly some $2 million will be returned to county residents through the tax plan.

The reduction in taxes is the third tax cut in four years the board has approved.

Commissioner Vic Mazziotti praised next year’s tax plan, calling it a “good” and “prudent” budget.

Items in the 2016 budget include a $500,000 grant for farmland preservation; $140,000 for the national program My Brother’s Keeper; $100,000 investment in the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center; four additional sheriff’s deputies; two more coroner’s office staffers; and one additional assistant district attorney.

Brace said he could not vote for the budget because it requires a stabilization fund transfer of $4.1 million.

The board indicated it plans to reduce the fund from $25 million to $20.87 million to balance the budget.

“This is a better budget than what was presented to us from a spending perspective,” countered Commissioner Michael Schware.

According to Lehigh County Home Rule Charter rules, county Executive Tom Muller has 10 days to veto the budget. The board will then have 15 days to act.

According to a Oct. 29 press release from the county, Muller vetoed five of 31 amendments in the budget.

“The Happy Meal tax cut, which amounts to $12.80 per household on average, was a move designed to confuse voters into believing that campaign promises of the past have been met,” Muller said in the release.